Do You Need a Disability Discrimination Attorney?
- Have you gone to a business and do they lack disability accommodations? We can help get you the recovery you need?
- Do you face wrongful termination because of your disability?
- Is your boss refusing to make a few simple changes that would make your disability a non-issue?
- Have you been shunted into a dead-end position since you became disabled?
What’s a reasonable accommodation? Certainly the term includes classic measures such as wheelchair ramps — but it also might mean a modified work schedule, some specialized training, or a change in duties. Unless such tweaks would impose “undue hardship” on your employer, you’re entitled to any adjustments that will help you to work effectively.
If you’ve been wrongfully fired because you sought a workplace accommodation, federal law may help to restore your career and reputation.
Pinnacle Disability Group® law firm has a track record of representing employees who have faced bias because of their disabilities. Our attorneys are based in Ohio and New York, but we take cases nationwide.
If you have suffered illegal discrimination under the ADA, you may be entitled recover back pay, compensatory damages, and attorney fees. In addition, punitive damages are available if an employee can show that the employer engaged in a discriminatory practice with malice or reckless indifference to the employee’s federally protected rights.
As with all legal claims, deadlines are crucial. Employees generally must file a charge of discrimination within the 180 days following an adverse employment action. Federal employees suffering discrimination must file even more quickly — often within a matter of weeks.
If you’d like to consult with our attorneys, please contact us. To each consultation client we offer the following.
- A sympathetic ear
- A serious consideration of the facts
- A deep understanding of the law
- A clear-eyed assessment of your claims
Let our firm’s experience guide you: We have helped many employees before you – in many cases, employees who already had been punished, demoted, or fired by their company.
If we can help you, we will propose some next steps. If not, we will point you in a better direction.
Call or e-mail us and get the process started. You are standing up for justice. You need someone who’ll stand behind you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ADA Accommodation Requirements
The ADA requires an employer to make such reasonable accommodations for disabled employees unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations might include:
- Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities;
- Restructuring jobs;
- Modifying work schedules;
- Adjusting or modifying equipment, examinations or training material; or
- Providing qualified readers or interpreters.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published extensive guidelines on reasonable accommodation, including illustrative examples.
What’s the difference between the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act?
The two laws are similar but apply to different employers. Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act provides the same basic rights for federal employees and job applicants as Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act provides for non-federal employees and job applicants. While the two laws are not identical, their anti-discrimination provisions mostly have been harmonized. One notable difference: Federal employees have less time to make an initial complaint under the Rehab Act than non-federal employees have under the ADA.
What’s the ADAAA?
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (“ADAAA”) strengthened the ADA and eliminated loopholes created by various court decisions. In particular, the ADAAA:
- Expanded the phrase “major life activity” to include major bodily functions such as functions of the nervous, urinary and circulatory systems;
- Clarified that an employee asserting that she was discriminated against because she was “regarded as” disabled need only prove that she was discriminated against because of an actual or perceived impairment;
- Removed the effects of mitigating measures in determining whether an individual has a disability; and
- Clarified that an impairment that is episodic or in remission is an ADA disability if it limits a major life activity when the impairment is active.
The EEOC has published a fact sheet that summarizes its handling of the ADAAA.
I have a short-term disability. Am I protected from disability discrimination?
Possibly. Until the ADAAA passed, chances are that you would not have been deemed protected. Under the ADAAA, however, the ADA embraces injuries from which you’ll recover — but that are serious enough to “substantially limit” one or more major life activities.
I could perform much better if my boss were a bit more flexible. Does my employer have a duty to discuss my ideas?
Employers must engage in an “interactive process” to come up with any “reasonable accommodations” that could allow a disabled employee to do his or her job. This doesn’t mean that an employer must give you everything you ask for. Instead, employers and employees must engage in a good-faith dialogue to see if there are any adjustments that would allow you to do your job without imposing an undue hardship on your employer.
I’m pretty sure I’ve faced disability discrimination. What should I do?
You should file a complaint with the appropriate agency. The agency may vary depending on where you work — and deadlines may vary, too. To get a full picture of your rights, consider contacting our ADA lawyers.
Where else can I go for reliable information and advice about disability discrimination?
The U.S. Department of Justice maintains ADA.gov, but the site can be a bit difficult to navigate. The EEOC is the primary enforcer of federal anti-discrimination laws, and offers a good Q+A section about the ADA. The U.S. Department of Labor has an excellent list of resources and links about the ADA. The Job Accommodation Network is government-funded and offers free advice to individuals. Finally, the ADA National Network also is government-funded and can offer training and advice; many of its services are aimed at employers and institutions, but its Web site includes lots of useful information.
What if a place of business does not have accommodations for disabled individuals?
We will pursue your rights and can file suit against the business for violating the ADA. To start a dialog with us, simply: get in touch.